Chapter 26 #4
Shir dipped her chin, lifted a hand to her chest, and patted her hide before shifting her gaze to Tas.
Telok understood her meaning down into his soul.
She felt it too. The worry, anxiety, and desperation when she was apart from her mate.
Though it did not quiet the feelings in him, he drew a hint of comfort from knowing he was not alone in experiencing them.
And he appreciated her ability to communicate all that, to connect with him, without the need for words.
Perhaps she might teach Rekosh…
His mandibles twitched up into a smile at the thought.
Several fast, heavy beats of the drums loudened over the other sounds. The drone of conversation faded, replaced by an excited murmur sweeping through the gathering. Vrix hurriedly cleared the center of the platform.
“There gonna be another dance?” Cole asked as he stood and offered a hand to Sophia to help her up.
“I haven’t heard anyone mention their intentions,” Shir replied. She and Tas stood as well, picking up their broodlings as the little ones rushed to them.
“Such things aren’t always known,” said Tas smoothly as Virai climbed onto his shoulders and wrapped her arms around his head to hold herself in place.. “Passion strikes at any moment.”
Sophia glanced at Cole with a small smile on her lips. “Sure does.”
The winddancers and humans joined the crowd. Telok rose onto his legs and hesitated. Were he to quietly slip away now, no one would notice…
Music began, the drums and strings joining in a slow, building harmony, and he found himself stepping forward to stand beside Tas.
Virai, perched on her sire’s shoulders, stared up at Telok.
When he met her gaze, she narrowed her eyes, carefully spread her legs, and pulled herself onto Tas’s head, little body wobbling.
Tas’s upper arms darted up to catch her hindquarters, steadying her and shifting her into a more secure position.
Sitting atop her higher perch, Virai turned her face toward Telok again, eyes now level with his chin. She let out an exasperated little huff. “You are too big.”
Telok gestured in apology. “Forgive me, little one.”
“I will be big soon,” she declared in her high, tiny voice.
“Very soon.” Telok sank down slowly, lowering himself until the broodling was a few finger widths taller than him.
Her eyes lit up, and she bounced in place, chittering.
The music picked up into a livelier rhythm, calling Telok’s attention ahead. Just as on the night before, a male winddancer descended from the branches above on a silk strand. The difference was apparent a moment later when a second male lowered himself nearby.
Zesh and Ess.
“Bold of them to act so swiftly,” Tas said with a chitter.
“But not unexpected,” Shir replied.
Overhead, the two males exchanged a glare and began swinging and spinning, their colors and patterns creating a dazzling display even without the aid of spinewood sap fires making them glow.
They moved faster and faster, ever more elaborately and gracefully, seemingly driven by the need to outdo one another.
With flourishing flips, they both dropped onto the platform. Their heated gazes met again before turning toward someone in the crowd.
Even sitting, Ayali’s head was above those of the winddancers standing around her, who scurried to either side to clear the space between her and the two dancers.
Dark eyes unreadable, she canted her head. Ess and Zesh launched into the next part of their dance, matching the sultrier beat of the drums as they vied to be the one closest to Ayali.
Last night, Lacey had been mesmerized by the mating dance. She’d watched with unmasked awe and no small amount of longing, caught in the passion and devotion demonstrated by the dancer to his mate-to-be.
A deep hum resonated in Telok’s chest. Not all gifts could be held in one’s hand, and what he felt for Lacey could not be captured in any item he could competently shape.
Telok leaned toward Tas. Raising his voice over the thumping music, he said, “I must ask you…”
Tas turned his head toward Telok. Grunting at the disturbance, Virai absently climbed over onto her mother’s shoulder, never once looking away from the dancers.
“You danced like this for Shir?” Telok asked.
With a trill, Tas nodded. “One of my proudest moments. When she joined me, I nearly came undone.”
Ess and Zesh continued dancing toward Ayali, nearly matching each other move for move. The instant they were within reach, each male thrust a hand toward her, exchanging one more glare before looking back at her.
She pushed herself up, and the males tipped their heads back to hold her gaze as she stood. Neither backed away, not even as she loomed over them.
“Let us find some quiet,” Telok said.
Tas touched a foreleg to Telok’s. “Is something amiss?”
Ayali’s shoulders rose with a deep breath. She exhaled and took both males’ hands.
Surprise rippled through the crowd, shifting to cheers as the female thornskull joined Zesh and Ess in their dance.
Smiling, Telok shook his head. “No…but I would ask for your aid all the same.”